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Day 154 Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. 8 Therefore, though I might be bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you —being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-- 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even yourself besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I will be granted to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. When was the last time you received a letter pleading with you about the life of another person? Do people write such letters today? What about e-mails or texts? Have you received one of those concerning another person? Paul sent a letter to Philemon about Onesimus, who had worked with him for the gospel of Jesus Christ, whom he knew to be one of Philemon’s slaves. Paul sent Onesimus back to him with accolades about his faithfulness to him, hoping he would receive him back as more than a slave but as a brother in Jesus Christ. Paul told him about the joy he had in Philemon’s relationship with Jesus Christ and asked for the joy to be returned in the Lord to refresh his heart in the Lord, regarding Onesimus. As Christians, have you been in a job you felt didn’t go anywhere and you simply walked away from it, not showing up for work? Many people do without a backward glance because they find the job unfulfilling. Yet, have you as a Christian walked away from a job as Onesimus did to find more fulfilling work? Or have you as a Christian employer, had an employee walk off the job and then come back to you asking for their job back? I would hazard a guess that it either doesn’t happen that an employee seeks to return to his job or that an employer rehires someone who walked off the job. They would be deemed untrustworthy. Before you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you were untrustworthy for the kingdom of God. People who knew the kind of person you were might want nothing to do with you. It would take a person with an impeccable character to recommend you for work in the body of Christ. Paul was such a person. Before he found the Lord on the Damascus Road, he had the saints imprisoned, and killed for the gospel. It took Barnabus’ recommendation to the apostles in Jerusalem before they would accept him. Here Paul sent a letter of recommendation for a slave who proved himself faithful in the body of Christ. Who recommended you to the body of Christ? How did you prove yourself worthy of other Christians? Who you were before you accepted Jesus and who you are after, makes a huge difference in your life. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away the stains of your former life and give you a new life in Christ Jesus. Only one who has seen the change in you can recommend you to the saints. Everyone needs a witness to the change in their lives. Paul was Onesimus’ witness. Barnabas was Paul’s witness. Who was yours? Let’s pray: Father, thank you for accepting me as Your child through the recommendation of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for me on the cross. Let me be a witness for others who accept Your Son, as their Savior so they can become all You purpose for them in the body of Christ. Let it be my joy in service to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 17 December 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.